[SaltyGrub]

The Zishan Z1 is smaller, lighter and sounds better than the Walnut v2.1? That's sad to hear for Walnut owners like myself.

It's 30 bucks dude, get one.

 

[SaltyGrub]

...works also great as USB sound card (Windows 10 Creators Edition tested)

Very nice!

Would you mind testing the Zishan Z1's with an Android Phone as a portable DAC
and see if it works? Mine is on its way (1 to 2 weeks from now) and the wait is killing me.

 

[wskl]

Would you mind testing the Zishan Z1's with an Android Phone as a portable DAC
and see if it works? Mine is on its way (1 to 2 weeks from now) and the wait is killing me.

@Frederick Wang has confirmed in a previous post that it works on his Android device.

I think you will find that Android USB Audio is not always guaranteed, in my case, sadly the Z1 is not working, UAPP can detect the Z1 but when I start playback, there is no music coming out from the headphone jack.

 

[DBaldock9]

My work PC is really locked down, so that's something I want to know, as well. I'll be testing what happens when it's connected to a Win10 PC, when I get to work tomorrow morning.

I can say that it was detected by my home PC (Win7 Pro), and the drivers auto-installed, without my having to click on anything - except opening the Audio Settings and selecting the Z1 as a Playback Device.

So, I connected it to the locked-down Win10 PC at work (which I cannot install SW or Drivers on), and it immediately showed up in the "Playback Devices" (as Default). Just listened to some YouTube videos.

I'm impressed that this $32 Player works on my work PC, when the $150 - $200 Players (Cayin N3 & Shanling M2s) won't, because they require drivers to be installed.

 

[bzfrank]

Yep! It connects using the std. Microsoft drivers. No need for driver install. BTW I noticed it does not work on XP, but given the age of that OS that's mostly academic.

 

[bzfrank]

How is it with low impedance IEM's, buds?

My Shockwave III IEMs sounds very nice connected to the Z1. They are rated at an input impedance of 20Ω.

 

[DBaldock9]

Listening to a Lindsey Stirling concert on YouTube, with the Z1 connected to my K's 500, and the Bass impact is really impressive.

 

[SaltyGrub]

@Frederick Wang has confirmed in a previous post that it works on his Android device.

I think you will find that Android USB Audio is not always guaranteed, in my case, sadly the Z1 is not working, UAPP can detect the Z1 but when I start playback, there is no music coming out from the headphone jack.

OUCH, well, at least I can still use it on my PC

 

[Karl2009]

So, I connected it to the locked-down Win10 PC at work (which I cannot install SW or Drivers on), and it immediately showed up in the "Playback Devices" (as Default). Just listened to some YouTube videos.

I'm impressed that this $32 Player works on my work PC, when the $150 - $200 Players (Cayin N3 & Shanling M2s) won't, because they require drivers to be installed.

Thanks for the check. I've already ordered it, I've got an offer in Ali for less than 26€.

 

[bzfrank]

The Zishan Z1 is smaller, lighter and sounds better than the Walnut v2.1?

In fact both are absolutely identical in size, only the knobs make for a difference in total length. The Walnut v2 has a weight of 98g, while the Zishan Z1 86g. Soundwise its no competition, the Zishan is better, both OOB and amp-rolled optimized.

 

[LaughMoreDaily]

The Walnut v2 has a weight of 98g, while the Zishan Z1 86g. Soundwise its no competition, the Zishan is better, both OOB and amp-rolled optimized.

You're saying the opamp rolling on Zishan sounds better? With the same amps?

 

[dkfuel]

I received my Zishan today! Unfortunately it arrived with the power switch set to "on" so I need to fully charge it before I can use it. It'd still need to charge it anyway of course so a minor annoyance at worst but still -- turn it off before you ship it guys!

(And no it had never been opened so I can't blame US Customs.)

 

[bzfrank]

You're saying the opamp rolling on Zishan sounds better? With the same amps?

Yes - it sounds better.

No - not the same op amps, e.g. the LME49720NA does not work in the Walnut too well (needs decoupling capacitors most likely), it shines in the Zishan... YMMD

IMHO there is currently no reason to get a Walnut v2, given the sound quality of the Zishan Z1 and its USB DAC mode it is simply in another league. Even OOB with the lowly NE5532.

 

[noknok23]

but hold on, you haven't heard the Walnut V2S.... yet (no one did )

 

[flamesofarctica]

Hopefully the competition between the Walnut and the Zishan means we'll get ongoing improvements to both as they continue to outdo one another :-D

Really like both, so it's win win, although my 'heart' is with the Walnut as it came first.